Insurance

Consumer Watchdog Sues Blue Shield for Forcing Those with Preexisting Conditions into Bare Bones Coverage

June 13, 2012  ·  Mark Reback

<p> <a href="http://www.scpr.org/news/2012/06/13/32800/consumer-watchdog-sues-blue-shield-forcing-sparse-/">Click here to listen to the audio of this radio broadcast</a>.</p>

Class-Action Lawsuit Filed Against Blue Shield

June 13, 2012  ·  Mark Reback

<p> <a href="http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/story?section=news/consumer&id=8700571">Click here to view the video of this broadcast</a>.</p> <p> <span class="storyDateline">SANTA MONICA, CA (KABC) -- </span> A class-action lawsuit has been filed against Blue Shield over the shutdown of health insurance plans. Customers who are dropped can sign up for a different Blue Shield plan, but it's not as good.</p>

Lawsuit Filed Against Blue Shield of California Over Policy Changes

June 13, 2012  ·  Mark Reback

<p>On Tuesday, advocacy group Consumer Watchdog filed a lawsuit against Blue Shield of California for allegedly violating a 1993 state law by regularly ending policies and then raising rates for members left in the plan, the <i><a href="http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/06/13/BAVS1OUGKA.DTL" target="_blank" rel="noopener">San Francisco Chronicle</a> </i>reports.</p> <p>The lawsuit, which was filed in San Francisco Superior Court, is seeking class certification.</p> <p class="subheading">Details of Allegations</p>

Blue Shield Sued Over ‘Death Spiral’ Allegation

June 13, 2012  ·  Mark Reback

<p>SAN FRANCISCO -- A consumer group has sued Blue Shield, accusing the health insurer of using big rate hikes to force older and sicker people into low-benefit and high-deductible plans, a tactic the group calls a "death spiral."<br /> <br /> Consumer Watchdog announced the suit Wednesday during a news conference in front of Blue Shield's corporate headquarters in San Francisco.<br /> <br /> The group accuses Blue Shield of closing certain policies to new customers, then sharply raising rates for those remaining in the plans.<br /> <br />

Blue Shield Rejects Claims It Gamed Calif. Policyholders

June 13, 2012  ·  Mark Reback

<p> Blue Shield of California on Wednesday vigorously denied allegations in a proposed class action accusing the insurer of illegally shutting down policies in order to nudge sicker patients into plans that are costlier or provide fewer benefits.</p>

Consumer Group in Calif. Says Rate Hikes Show Need for Rate Reviews

June 12, 2012  ·  Mark Reback

<p> The California insurance commissioners should be able to regulate health insurers’ rate increases, including the up to 24% hike insurers plan for small businesses in July and August, according to a consumer advocacy group.<br /> <br />

California Health Insurers Propose Raising Rates for Small Firms

June 12, 2012  ·  Mark Reback

<p> <b>Proposed increases of more than 10% in small-business health insurance rates that are going into effect in July or August have drawn scrutiny from state regulators.</b></p>

Blue Shield Sued Over Policy Switches

June 12, 2012  ·  Mark Reback

<p><span id="articlebody">San Francisco, CA -- When Blue Shield of California raised the rates for Robert Jeffrey Martin's family insurance policy by 23 percent, the health insurer offered him two options: Stay in his expensive old plan or switch to a new policy that offered his family skimpier benefits with a higher deductible.</span></p> <p><span id="articlebody">Martin, 59, knew finding a new insurer would be tough and felt like he had no choice. The Gilroy farmer, who grows olives trees and bottles his own olive oil, switched to the new policy. </span></p>

A Victory For Sunlight And Accountability At The Energy Commission

June 11, 2012  ·  Jamie Court

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Insurers Owe Rebates To Many Californians

June 2, 2012  ·  Mark Reback

<p> Anthem Blue Cross owes some California policyholders nearly $40 million in rebates and nonprofit rival Blue Shield of California owes about $11 million under a requirement of the federal healthcare law.<br /> <br /> Nationwide, insurers had to notify federal and state officials by Friday of how much they owe customers if the companies failed to spend a minimum amount of customers' premiums on medical care last year. Insurers must pay these rebates by Aug. 1.<br /> <br />

Tama Greenberg – San Francisco, CA

June 1, 2012  ·  Mark Reback

<p> <img class=" size-full wp-image-2439" alt="" class="right" src="https://consumerwatchdog.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/images_tama_for_web.jpg" style="width: 144px; height: 144px;" width="144" height="144" />I’ve been self-employed for 20 years, but went back to school about five years ago and switched from marketing to interior design. I also sell my own art. The recession clobbered me just as I was getting started. If I hadn’t been frugal when times were better and saved a pretty good nest egg, I wouldn’t be able to pay for my health insurance now.</p>

Health Insurance: Rebates Are a Drop In the Bucket, but Justifying Rates Means Real Savings

May 31, 2012  ·  Judy Dugan

<p> <img class=" alignright size-full wp-image-2206" alt="" src="https://consumerwatchdog.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/images_judydrawingname.gif" style="margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; float: right; width: 133px; height: 200px; " width="133" height="200" />Thursday's <a href="http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-health-rebates-20120531,0,1280810.story">reports</a> that some Californians will get rebates on their health insurance premiums are a little bit of good news--but not nearly as good as it could be.<br /> <br />